INTRODUCTION 



Spencerian system of philosophy. The unity 

 and continuity which the doctrine of evolution 

 promised to give to history fascinated our 

 young philosopher, and he devoted himself 

 first to the study, and then to the defence, of 

 the general doctrine of evolution itself. A lib- 

 eral at heart, naturally disposed to defend the 

 freedom of inquiry against arbitrary and tradi- 

 tional interferences, he sometimes found him- 

 self aroused, by conservative opposition, to a 

 certain gayety of vigorous polemic in defence 

 of the new doctrines. This polemic, when it 

 occurs, is far less characteristic of him than are 

 his kindliness and his learning ; and it contains 

 some features that were foreign to the bound- 

 less intellectual hospitality which he showed, 

 more and more, throughout his later years. 

 However he might at times express himself, 

 his nature as a student of serious problems, 

 and especially of religious problems, was a 

 kindly, fair-minded, open-hearted nature. He 

 looked on many sides of various issues. In 

 the midst of the greatest doubts and mysteries 

 he remained always tranquil. Despite all aus- 

 terities of polemic, he was always docile in in- 

 tellect, and optimistic in his judgment of things. 

 Despite all negations, he was essentially hope- 

 ful of truth. His religious sentiment was 

 strong and hearty, and was always intimately 

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